Container with bottom dispensing rotor



Deco 4, 1951 A. c. ROEBUCK, JR, ET AL 2,577,036

CONTAINER WITH BOTTOM DISPENSING ROTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1948 D 5L w WWW HR ma H 2 mm a L AM M Y B M a B u A T TORNEY Dec. 4, 19511 A. c. ROEBUCK, JR, ET AL 2,577,036

CONTAINER WITH BOTTOM DISPENSING ROTOR Filed Aug. e, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 60 [5A 208 20A 32B 56 I0 I8 32g A 208 F I 4 I24. 1 A ll i i Z l2| 5a' 'l l0 saA 44 I I 28 J I IG 164) 17 59 /8 28 I6 MA /7 44 416 INVENTORS. ALVA/l C. ROEBUC/QJR ARCHIE 7: ARI VOLD in... Try/M2:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT F FIC'E CONTAINER 'WITH BOTTGM *DISP-EN SING TOR ,Alvahivc Roebuck ln, ,r'lujunga, and Archie T. Amomla r s en a, alif- -'-Applioation August 6, 1948, Serial No. 42,957

,. ,12.Qlaims. (Cl. 222--339) i1 .Thisinvention relates to :a mechanical :device Lforktranslating motion and :particularly {to :the application ofsuch a devicecto.dispensin iapna- :ratus. More specifically: atheyinvention relates 'ato .the transla ion of linear motion of-oneamember into rotary motion. of another and particularly into oscillating rotary motion tooperatera dispenser. a itat r, sifter, etc.-

To accomplish thistranslation iofrmotion, :we

mor demechan sm omprisin at tatable mem- '.-ber;fizge ,d with respect to linear ;motion, an elont d on u ex endin a y thr u h th rotatable member and :fi-xed with ;reS Dc t vto-rot t onal mot on, a d mean fiery a sin l ne motlQn' ofythe tongue along theeaxisof rotation of the rotatable member .to produce rotatiomof ,therotatable member.

These ,last named .means enerally :oomprise a ,co-axial bore in .the rotati}able ,member extending from one end thereof and opening at the oppositeend ,throughla ;.sl ot which intersects the rotationalaxisoi the roitatable member. vA .fixed member is ,mounted adjacent. the said .one endof .the rotatable memberand is provided with asmtrtherlithro ugh which intersects a projection of the rotational :axis of the rotatable'member. "The tongue is :passed through the two slotsiand twisted (about its longitudinal axis throughout 'a portion of "its length traversing the slot in the rotatable member. Linearmotion of the tongue in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotatable- -mem- -ber causes the first named slot to follow-the twist 'inthe tongue thereby rotating the rotatable being described hereinafter.

;A :feature.of the invention whichlends it to diversified application is the ease by which the ;translated motion -.may be brought about by are .motefioperation. Thus -if the rotatable member .is,.;angagitator blade, dispensing :devi'ce; etc. %it will generally be disposed within a closed :container womparatively'inaccessible to manipulation. By

red .adjacentthe bottom of the container.

ersroffee dispensers. ream di pe s rs a d th like, it is desirable to dispense at each operation a 'fi-Xcdtand uniform quantity of material. {The present invention is described with particular relation to its application in a coiiee dispenser, ;but the same is equally applicablejor dispensers for any granular or liquid material.

Ar-dispenser in accordance with the invention ;c.omprises a container, abarrelrotatablymount- The barrel has a longitudinal hub through which ;a rco-axialgbore projects and fin opening in the curvilinear wall thereof t0-:receive from the con- :tainer :the :material :to *be discharged. The-pontainerghas an opening in the bottom thereof gsubstantially olosed by the barrel. A slot in, one

endofxllhe barrel opens into the bore and inter- -sects :the rotationalaxis of the barrel. A' slotted member is"stationarily mounted;a;djacent the opz-posite ,end of ,the barrel with the slot therein .aintersecting ;a projection of the axis of rotation of the barrel. A semi-flexible tongue is inserted throu h the two slots, traversing the floarrel bore, andifixliendsgthroug-h aside wall of the container ,in the slotted end of the barrel. The tongue is twistedthroughout a portion of itsglength passing throughthe slot in the barrel. Linear motion of the twisted length .of the tongue through the :barrel slot causes the same to follow the contours of *the tongue imparting rotation *to the barrel, the direction .of-which is dependent upon the direction of linear travel of the tongue.

,In .a p efe d r t sem -fl xib e tongu .extending ,through the side wall :of the container is channelled on the inner side of a curvilinear :handleanddsanchoredat itslupper end ;to a lever piyotablylmounted to :the handle. By depres- ;sion ,of' the lever a linear motion is {imparted .to the tongue whichas above described is translated into .a :rotary motion of the dispensing barrel. -.Conveniently, .the tongue .is spring loaded either within :the barrel itself or otherwise so :as to return the lever to the-raised position and return the barrel to its so.called rest position.

The angle of "twist of 'the length .of tongue passing through the barrel =slot, together with .the linear displacement of the :tonguevis con- :venientlysuch as :to impart of rotationto -&the barrel. The opening in the barrel =wall idedines :an :angle of -appro-ximately 1 20 with the .center iOf rotation iof the barrel. The :opening in :the container bottom ldefinesaan angle :of approximately 60 with the 'axisrofirotation of zthe ibar-rel.

An opening from the nontainer :into :the ibarrel is conveniently formed in a fiat plate superimposed above the barrel forming what may be termed a false bottom in the container. The only way for material in the container to pass through the false bottom and be discharged from the bottom of the container is by means of the rotating barrel.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof taken in relation to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dispenser in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is also taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 showing the dispenser mechanism in a different position;

Fig. 5A is a partial sectional view showing the incorporation of wiper blades in the barrel housmg;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a modification of the invention wherein the barrel may be rotated through one or more complete revolutions with each stroke of the tongue; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the application of the invention to an agitator.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 it will be seen that the dispenser comprises a generally cylindrical container l having a handle l2 and a cover l3. The cover is conveniently molded of thin plastic cupped inwardly in its center section and provided with ribs I3A, ISB to impart rigidity thereto. The cover has a peripheral lip 14 which engages the container wall to hold the cover thereon.

The handle [2 is provided with upper and lower bosses 12A, I2B which are tapped to receive two screws l5, lA which hold the handle to the container. The central portion [6A of the bottom I6 is embossed and is provided with a central rectangular opening H. A barrel !8 is rotatably mounted in a block 26, the block being afiixed to the embossed bottom [6A of the container by screws 2|, 22 and to a false bottom 24 in the container by screws 25, 25. The barrel [8 which is conveniently made in two sections [8A, I8B has a hollow hub 28 forming a co-axial bore 29.

The block 20 is also conveniently made in two parts 20A and 2013. The two parts of the block 20 are joined along the vertical plane; Fig. 3 being taken through this plane.

The ends of the bore 29 are countersunk to receive tubular pivot bearings 32, 33 which extend outwardly from opposite ends of the barrel and are journaled in journal boxes 34, 35 in the block 20. The journal boxes are likewise countersunk to receive thrust bearings 36, 3'! respectively. The bearing 32 has an enclosed end traversed by an elongated slit 32B which passes through the axis of rotation of the barrel. The opposite pivot bearing 33 is open ended; the associated thrust bearing 31 having a closed end likewise traversed by a slit 313 which passes through the axis of rotation of the barrel l8.

,. .The two halves of the block 20 are held together by collars 40, 4! which are press fit over the journal boxes 34, 35 of the block.

Tel.

A metal band or tongue 44 is passed through a wall of the container 10 and through the bore 29 in the barrel extending through the slit 323 in the pivot bearing 32 and the slit 313 in the thrust bearing 31. Throughout a portion 44A of its length adjacent the slit 3213 in the pivot bearing the band 44 is twisted about its longitudinal axis through an angle of 180. In one particular application of the invention the 180 twist extends over an inch and one half of the band length.

A helical spring 46 is disposed around the band within the barrel bore abutting at one end against the thrust bearing 31 and at the opposite end against the twisted length 44A of the tongue.

In a preferred embodiment a lever 53 is pivotably mounted at 52 to the handle I2 and projects through a slot 54 in the outer face of the handle. A finger tab 53 is conveniently formed or affixed on the projecting end of the lever. Depression of the tab 53 as viewed in Fig. 3 will cause linear displacement of the band 44 towards the left as it passes through the barrel I8. Since the pivot bearing 32 is slotted at 323 and is free to rotate with the barrel I8 the linear displacement of the band 44 will cause the slot 32B to follow the contours of the twisted section 44A of the band. The angle of rotation of the barrel 18 will depend on the linear displacement of the band. In the example given above wherein the 180 twist was in an inch and onehalf of the band length, one inch linear displacement of the band will impart of rotation to the barrel [8. Displacement of tongue 44 to the left in the barrel will compress the spring 46 between bearing 3'! and the twist in the tongue. When the finger tab 53 is released, the spring will return the tongue and lever 50 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The linear displacement of the tongue or band 44 may be limited in a number of ways. In the particular embodiment illustrated the wall of the container will act as a stop. Alternatively, the end of the tongue can be reduced in width, as shown for example in Figs. 4 and 5, and the slot 313 can be dimensioned to pass the small end of the tongue but to prevent passage of the wider portion thereof. Also the slot 54 in the handle can be dimensioned so as to limit the stroke of the lever 50. Any of these expedients or others which appear feasible may be employed to establish the tongue travel.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 it is seen that the barrel [8 has an opening 56 in a wall thereof. Similarly the bottom [6A of the container has an opening I! and the false bottom 24 has an opening 58. The openings I1 and 58 are par.- tially enclosed by the block 20. The block 29 has a bottom opening 59 centered in the opening l1 and a top opening 60 centered in the opening 58. The opening 56 in the barrel includes an angle of approximately 120 with the axis of rotation of the barrel and the openings 59, 60 in the block include an angle of approximately 60 with the axis of rotation of the bar- By rotating the barrel through 120 the opening 56 is alternately aligned with the openings 60 and 59 in the block 20. Half of the opening 56 is aligned with the opening 60 and upon rotation through 120 the opposite half of the opening 56 is aligned with the opening 59 while the opening 60 is closed by the barrel wall.

Thus there can beno directiiow of material zto rotate lfrom the position .inwhich :thegopenilfls g 59 is :aligned withtopeningvfio:toatpositionwhere Lthe opening 55 is aligned with :the :bottom .open- King 59; the exact iquantity. ;being.;de.termined by the size of the barrel.

' fln manycapplicationsritfisdesirablelto dispense '-:a uniform and predetermined iquantity :of :material. 'For .example in :making acofiee itfis icon- "venient to dispense a heaping tablespoon of coifee for each cup. Forcthispurpose the bar rel is designed so as to .hold exactlya iheapinggllp tablespoon of cofiee. EIn this-manner, aupon each depression of the finger tab 53:19. tablespoon "10f coffee grounds will be discharged. Smaller .barrels may be used for sugaror the like or :larger barrels may be constructed for'otherpurposes.

If the dispenser is to be used 'for dispensing -liquids it may be desirable-to include a wiper seal in the block teso as to insure against-leakage of the liquid betweenthe barrel and theblock. -In Fig. 5A, the block and barrel are shown in 'partialsectional elevation. In this embodiment wiper-seals-thfiS are embedded -in the wall-ofthe block 2!! so as to wipe against the barr'e'l 18. The

--wipers are so positioned as -to seal the 'barrel while in either the receiving or-discharging posi- "tion.

In-the embodiment of Fig. '7 the barrel!!! is "rotatably mounted in ablocklz which is in' turn mounted-within a container 14. The barrel l0 "and the block 12 are substantially similar to the "barrel and block heretofore described. -A metal "band or tongue lfi is passed through-a bore in the barrel as in theforegOingembodiment. In the embodiment of Fig. I-fhovvever, the band is provided with an elongated'twisted section. In this case linear motion .of the band 16 will cause rotation of the'barrel "in through one or more complete revolutions depending upon the dimer displacement of the band. The number of revolutions which the barrel is rotated'will be a function of the pitch of band twist and the linear displacement of the band. This application of the invention finds 'use in dispensers for'exam- ,ple where multiple discharge "is required jfrom a single stroke.

Although the invention lhas'been described with particular reference to :itsapplication .in dis- ;pensers, it may be employed vt o,advantage. in, other applications.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 illustrates the application of the invention to an agitator as for example in a storage bin, or the like. A block 80 is mounted within a bin or container 82 and supports an agitator 84 rotatable in the block. The agitator 84 is provided wtih a plurality of blades 85, 86, etc. A band 8'! carried through a wall 82A of the bin and twisted throughout a portion of its length 81A is passed through a hub 84A of the agitator. Linear motion of the band 81 through hub 84A induces rotation of the agitator 84 in the manner above described. Household use of such an agitator may be employed for flour sifting or the like. For commercial use the twisted band may be considerably larger and may be used in storage bins or the like for conventional purposes.

We claim:

1. A dispenser comprising a container, a barrel rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the container, the barrel having a hub and a coaxial ibore in gthe. hubl-anlopeninglin thedcu-rvilinear wall of the :barreland anropeningginthe :bottom. of .the ,:container closed by the :barreL. a first .slit :in an .endjoflthe barrel .opening .into :the bore, a stationary :member mounted .tad'jacent ithe opposite-end of :the barrel and having asecond .slit therein, a .tonguelextendingithrough the first slit, .the bore of the'barreland the second slit, :the tongue beings-twisted about its longitudinal .axis throughout a portion of its length traversing-the first slit, and means operable :from the exterior of the container-for mov-ing said 'tongue linearly in the directionofthe axis 0f rotation-of=the barrel.

-2. A dispenser comprising -a container having an opening in the bottom thereof, a housing "mounted at -the; bottom--of"-the container above the openin "a top and bottom opening in the housing, the--bottom opening being aligned with the opening in 'the container bottom, a barrel rotatably mounted in the housing, the barrel having a 'hub and-a-co-axial bore inthe 'hub, an opening in the curvilinear wall of thebarrel, a first 'slit in an endof the barrelopening into the bore, a stationary member mounted adjacent the opposite end of the barrel and having a second slit therein, a'tonguerextending throughthe first slit, the bore of the barrel 'and the second-slit, the tongue being twisted about 'its longitudinal axis throughout a'portion of its leng'th traversing "the first s1it,-and mea'ns operablefrom the exterior of the container formoving saidtongue linearly in the direction'ofthe axis of-rotation of the barrel to rotate-the barrel so as to alternately align "the opening 'therein with the top and'bottom openingsin the housing.

3. A dispenser according to claim '2 having a .false bottom above the housing andgan opening in ,thefalse bottom aligned with the top opening in the housing.

4. A dispenser comprising a container having an opening ,in the bottom thereof, a housing mounted in the bottom of the container above the. opening and having a "top and bottom open- ,ingtherein, thehousingj'having a journal 'box at each end thereof, abarrel rotatably mounted in the housin .thebarreljhaving ahub, anda coaxial bore .in. thefhub, a .tubularfbearing extending. from .each .end of .thelbore and i i urn ed in .a journal-box, .an opening inithe curvilinear .wall of, the barrel, ajfirstslit in an end. of one of the tubular -bearings opening ,into the bore, ,a stationary member mounted adjacent the pposite end of the barrel and having a second slit therein, a tongue extendin through the first slit, the bore of the barrel and the second slit, the tongue being twisted about its longitudinal axis throughout a portion of its length traversing the first slit, and means operable from the exterior of the container for moving said tongue linearly in the direction of the axis of rotation of the barrel.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the housing comprises two separate identical parts joinable in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the housing, the two parts being held together by a pair of sleeves disposed around said journal boxes.

6. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the means operable from the exterior of the container for moving said tongue comprises a lever rotatably mounted to the container and means afiixing the outer end of the tongue to the lever.

7. A dispenser comprising a container, a barrel rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the container, the barrel having a hub and a co-axial bore in the hub, an opening in the curvilinear wall of the barrel and an opening in the bottom of the container closed by the barrel, a first slit in an end of the barrelopening into the bore, a stationary member mounted adjacent the opposite end of the barrel and having a second slit therein, a tongue extending through the first slit, the bore of the barrel and the second slit, the tongue being twisted about its longitudinal axis throughout a portion of its length traversing the first slit, means operable from the exterior of the container for moving said tongue linearly in the direction of the axis of rotation of the barrel, and a helical spring disposed around the tongue between the stationary member and the twisted portion of the tongue.

8. A dispenser comprising a container, a barrel rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the container, the barrel having a hub and a co-axial bore in the hub, an opening in the curvilinear wall of the barrel and an opening in the bottom oi the container closed by the barrel, a first slit in an end of the barrel opening into the bore, a stationary member mounted adjacent the opposite end of the barrel and having a second-slit therein, a tongue extending through the first slit, the bore of the barrel and the second slit, the tongue being twisted about its longitudinal axis throughout a portion of its length traversing the first slit, a curvilinear handle mounted on the outside of the container, the tongue extending through a wall of the container and upwardly along the inside of the handle, and a lever pivotably mounted to the upper end of the handle, the tongue being affixed to the lever so that depression of the lever causes linear displacement of the tongue.

9. A dispenser comprising a container having a removable cover, a barrel rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the container, the barrel having a hub and a co-axial bore in the hub, an opening in the curvilinear wall of the barrel and an opening in the bottom of the container closed by the barrel, a first slit in an end of the barrel opening into the bore, a stationary member mounted adjacent the opposite end of the barrel and having a second slit therein, a tongue extending through the first slit, the bore of the barrel and the second slit, the tongue being twisted about its longitudinally axis throughout a portion of its length traversing the first slit, a handle mounted on the outside of the container, a lever pivotably mounted to the handle, the outer end of the tongue being afiixed to the lever,

and a helical spring disposed around the tongue between the stationary member and the twisted portion of the tongue.

10. A dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the cover comprises a plastic member having an annular lip engageable with the sides of the container, the central portion of the cover being belied inwardly, and ribs extending across the belied section of the cover.

11. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the end of the tongue passing through the spring is narrower than the rest of the tongue and the spring is dimensioned so as to pass only the narrow end of the tongue and to limit travel by full compression of the spring.

12. A mechanical device for producing rotary motion comprising a stationary housing, a member rotatably mounted in said housing and having a coaxial bore, a slit in one end of the member intersecting the axis of rotation of the member and opening into the bore, a stabilizer stationarily mounted to the housing adjacent the opposite end of the rotatable member, a second slit in the stabilizer member intersecting a projection of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member, a lever arm pivotally mounted to the outside of the housing, an opening in the wall of the housing adjacent said one end of the rotatable member, and elongated flexible strip fastened at one end to said lever arm and extending through said opening, first slit, bore, and second slit, the strip being twisted about its longitudinal axis through a portion of its length in the region of the first slit and being flat on either side of said portion in the regions of the second slit and opening, and a helical spring mounted around the fiat portion or" the strip between the second slit and the twisted portion of the strip.

ALVAH C. ROEBUCK, JR. ARCHIE T. ARNOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 113,089 Perfater Mar. 28, 1871 1,294,596 Anderson Feb. 18, 1919 2,235,326 Muros Mar. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 250,460 Switzerland June 1, 1948 

